This past week I quilted two tops and attached the binding. I still need to do the hand part of the binding. I now have only one quilt left to finish this year for my PHD and it feels great!
Here is the Bear Paw Log Cabin quilted. I did a simple job and am pleased with how it turned out.
Here is the bee quilt. I quilted little bees in it, which I like, but I am not sure that I like the variegated thread I chose. It is too late now.
I know I have already crossed them off as finished, but bindings are my favorite part. I love to relax in front of a movie and hand stitch them. They will be done by the end of the month.
I have been absent for a couple of weeks, but the sewing is still progressing. I spent Saturday (all day) fitting and sewing these blocks together. It really was fun. There are a couple of seams left, but first I need to hand stitch the watering can down.
I need to plan the border and piece it because I really want this one done in December. It was a new start in 2018 that needs to be completed this year to stay up on my PHD challenge.
Speaking of the PHD challenge, I went back through the year counting UFO completions and discovered that I met my goal! Yay! I finished twelve.
I also got a quilt basted, one almost quilted, and another on the frames and ready to baste. Progress is happening people!
I am linking up with:
BOM's Away
MCM
Freemotion by the River
I have made some progress on a couple of projects of late. Below is a round robin owl quilt. I added my border section and sent it off with my sister when I saw her last weekend. I LOVE this quilt! It was made by my daughter. When she joined the family round robin she had two quilts that needed just a bit of work to be finished. She sent them both off and they will both return to her after January as completed tops. This one is special to me because I designed it as part of a mystery for my quilting family. I have quilted three of them myself all with different focus blocks.
Next up is my bee quilt. I LOVE THIS! The top is done. I hope to get it quilted in November.
I also have my mother's Quilters Garden loaded on the frames for basting.
I am linking up with:
Freemotion by the River
PHD Progress is below. I have five more to go in 2018.
The last quarter of 2018 is here along with the 4th Quarter Finish -a-long linky.
Here is my final list for the quarter challenges this year. I hope to finish the following:
1. My Quilter's Garden - quilt and bind
The story:
I designed this quilt one month at a time as a mystery swap. If you completed at least one block the month the pattern released then you got the next one for free. It was a fabulous group of ladies who joined in. I swapped two blocks per row in this quilt: one with a random person in the group and the other with my friend, Phyllis, who wanted one of my blocks in every row in her quilt. It was a grand time.
I LOVE this quilt! I want it done badly.
2. My mom's Quilter's Garden - quilt (My mother binds her quilts but doesn't machine quilt them)
The story:
Mom was in the group as well. I like vibrant colors and she favors pastels. You can feel the difference in our quilts even though many blocks were swapped and the group shared a color scheme.
3. Bees Quilt - add a border, quilt, and bind
The story:
My dearest friend, Deb, and I set off in 2018 to make a couple of Buggy Barn pattern quilts together that we had seen online. I finished the Santa/Reindeer in first quarter. Her reindeer are done but her Santas are waiting in a box upstairs. She loves them but doesn't like how many little pieces were involved.
The second one was this bee/flower quilt. We just finished the tops last week. She is making two: one for a friend and one for herself. Her friend's quilt is off to the quilter and mine is in this stage. Deb's quilt needs the bees completed but her flowers are done.
I LOVE IT!
4. Bear in the Woods Log Cabin - quilt and bind
The story:
I designed this quilt as part of a family round robin for my sister a few years ago. I decided I needed one too. Last spring I went on a business trip and took the fabric with me to cut out. I had been saving these colors in my stash and decided they were fitting for this project. Well, when I got to the hotel the first night I quickly realized that I had enough fabric to make two quilts. This one is for my son and the other for myself. His is ready to quilt.
5. Pieceful Country - assemble, border, quilt, and bind
The story:
I joined an online group where we were re-creating a quilt called "Sweet Land of Liberty". I honestly didn't really like the quilt because it is busier than I prefer, but I loved the idea behind the project. Each month the group would try to recreate the original quilt with some basic size guidelines, but there was no pattern. We could improvise to fit out style and needs as desired. Well, first off, I didn't have enough Americana fabrics to make the quilt. I opted to make it anyway out of pastels because I had leftovers from my Dear Jane quilt.
As the project moved along, I would change some blocks I didn't like or didn't think fit into my "different" theme. For example, I used a chicken where an eagle belonged. I embroidered a totally different angel that was supposed to be appliqued. My house block was different. I used a watering can instead of a basket, and my vine was different. I converted a star into more of a flower - thinkgs like that. Most of what I did came from patterns I already had in my house that I had either designed myself or had purchased.
This quilt is still too busy for me, but I love the elements. I wanted it to not get too big, but it will get bigger because I plan to add white space between major elements to make it easier on the eyes. Wish me luck!
6. Felicity's Log Cabin Star Quilt - quilt (Felicity will bind hers)
The story:
Felicity wants me to quilt this for her. She is my dear sister-in-law who became a quilter only after joining the family. We all make quilts. She is not happy with it because she didn't disburse the light and dark blocks evenly and ended up with one section of all light blocks. She likes things finished more than she likes them to be perfect, so she sent it off with me.
On a side note, I think we all do that sometimes. We have to choose between perfect or finished. Quilts that really matter to me go the "almost perfect" route while other quilts go the finished route. As many quilts as I make, I sometimes just need them to be done as I'm sure Felicity can agree with.
In order to do this I will need to quilt two a month. I do my own quilting so that may be a stiff goal for me because I work full time. I am going for it.
Most of these quilts were on my 18 in 2018 list except for the bees and Pieceful Country. They have to be done because I started them this year. My PHD challenge requires that I finish anything I start this year. It has pushed me to finish but has not completely stopped me from starting new projects. That is inevitable!
I am linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday.
The horse quilt is bound! I am keeping it at my house for the grand babies when they come to visit along with other quilts for them to choose from. I dream of watching movies together or reading books cuddled in our quilts.
This is on my 3rd Quarter Finish Along List.
Here is a link back to my original goals.
I brought out my October quilts to display around the house. It feels so festive. It is also fun to see quilts others made for me among my own finishes.
I made this at my state's annual Quilt Fest from a class.
The quilt on the couch was made and given to me by a quilt friend. The one on the wall is made from a round robin. So many people who are dear to me made blocks as well as ladies I met online.
The flowers were made for me by a quilt friend as well.
I am linking up with:
Freemotion by the River
Esther's WOW
Monday Making
Let's Bee Social
